COVID-19 Pandemic Committee on May 21st, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Mr. Jeneroux, you have 50 seconds left.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Chair, the health minister has dragged her feet on this, and patients are looking for certainty. Again, will the Deputy Prime Minister step in and delay the PMPRB regulatory changes that are set to come into force on July 1?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, let me first of all say that our health minister is doing a fantastic job. She, like the rest of our government, is focused on ensuring that all Canadians have access to the medicines they need and that our country doesn't pay more than it needs to for the medicines it needs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

We'll begin with Mr. Therrien.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Chair, on April 29 the government established the CESB, the Canada emergency student benefit, to provide financial assistance to students who may be experiencing problems finding a job under the circumstances we are all aware of. This goal has been achieved.

However, it is important to make sure that this CESB does not prevent students from entering the workforce. It should not deter them from working. In other words, it is essential that every student's income should always increase for each additional hour they work.

My question is a simple one: does the current CESB provide for additional student income for hours that they work, in every instance?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I would like to thank the member for his question.

I would like to emphasize that in my view, as a mother and a member of Parliament, the most important thing is to protect our young people and students. We must all understand that the crisis raises a particular problem for them and that it is a very dangerous time for them and their future. For this reason, I am proud to be able to say that our government has created a $9-billion support program for our students.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

I have not had an answer to my question. I will state it again because I am in a good mood. My question is: does the current CESB provide for additional student income for hours that they work, in every instance?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his question.

I would like to reply by saying that for our government—and for the Bloc Québécois member, I believe—the priority must be to protect our students.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

And yet it's a simple question. Will every single student who works more hours earn more income as a result?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

The answer is simple too.

We will do everything required to protect and help our young people because we understand that the situation is difficult, and even dangerous, because of the COVID-19 crisis.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

I will ask the question another way.

A student who works two days a week will have exactly the same income as a student who works five days a week. Does the Deputy Prime Minister find this logical?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

It may be because I am a mother and have many young Canadians in my personal life, but I have an enormous amount of confidence in our young people. I believe that they want to work.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

The answer is simple. A student works two days a week; that's a fact. I am not a mother, but I am a father, and I can understand that.

I will now ask a very simple question. You agreed with the Bloc Québécois: on April 29, you agreed in the House that it was necessary to introduce work incentives. What has happened since then? You gave your word to the Bloc Québécois. What is the outcome? What have you done over the past three weeks?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I remind the members to address their questions to the chair.

Please continue, Ms. Freeland.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I am well aware that the Bloc Québécois member is not a mother. Fathers also think that students and young people are important.

I have two things to say. First of all, our government recognizes the close cooperation that exists among all members of the opposition, including members of the Bloc Québécois. We are always prepared to speak and work with them. Secondly, I am personally convinced that our young people want to work. They want to gain employment experience because they understand that it is important for their careers.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

I know the answer: The Liberals have done nothing. They promised on April 29 that they would offer incentives because they felt we were right. However, they did nothing.

How can we trust a government that gives its word but then fails to follow up on it after three weeks?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I hope and believe that Canadians and Quebeckers have a high level of confidence in our government. I hope that they know we understand that we have to deal with a crisis that is a major challenge. We are prepared to do everything needed to protect the health of Canadians and our country's economy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The next question goes to Mr. Singh.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I have a question for the government. We believe that all public funds should go to workers and not to companies that are cheating the system.

Is the government prepared to make changes to its program to ensure that no public funds are given to companies that cheat the system?

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The honourable Deputy Prime Minister.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Thank you Mr. Chair

I agree with the leader of the NDP that the priority is to help workers. We must help Canadians because our country is facing a major economic crisis. We believe that it is important to find ways to give money to people.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Mr. Chair, my question is very clear. Money should go to workers, not to companies that cheat the system, not to companies that have their money hidden in offshore tax havens.

Will the government fix its program, fix its plan, so that it is not sending money to companies that cheat the system, and will it send money to workers and support those who need it?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Mr. Chair, I agree with the member opposite that our priority needs to be to support Canadian workers in this very difficult time.

What I would say to the member opposite, as the Prime Minister said earlier this week, please name one company that is receiving the wage subsidy support and therefore is able to keep its workers on the payroll who you think should not be getting that support. We'd like to know. We don't want anybody to be cheating either.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Before we continue, I just want to remind members both asking and answering questions to place their answers and questions through the chair, not directly to the person.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'm sorry.